Diane Dodds MEP said it was important to engage with “all actors within the Common Agricultural Policy reform process . . . Simon Coveney has over the last number of months prepared himself for the task ahead. He has visited other parts of the UK in recent weeks, and indeed has visited and spoken to many of the lead member states.

“He has also built strong relations with the [European] agricultural commissioner Dacian Ciolos and members of the European parliament.